Cape Town – Former Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Adetshina has been invited to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, an offer extended by the pageant’s organisers who sympathised with her situation.
Chidimma withdrew from the Miss SA pageant due to controversy over her citizenship status, which was questioned following allegations of her mother’s possible identity fraud.
Despite being born in South Africa, Adetshina faced scrutiny due to her Nigerian father and Mozambican mother’s citizenship issues.
Following her withdrawal, Chidimma has been given a new chance to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant. The organisers issued a statement expressing their understanding of the difficulties she encountered, which prompted her withdrawal from the previous contest.
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“As a Nigerian by heritage, we would like to formally invite you to participate in the Miss Universe Nigerian 2024 pageant. This is an opportunity to represent your father’s native land on an international stage, and we believe you would be an outstanding contender.
“We encourage you to consider this opportunity and take part in a competition that celebrates the strength, intelligence and diversity of Nigerian women. Should you wish to participate, all you need to do is respond to this invitation and we will be delighted to guide you through the next steps,” read the statement.
Meanwhile, in response to the controversy surrounding Adetshina’s citizenship, the Puebla International Literature Festival 2024 in Mexico has removed South Africa from its ‘Country-in-Focus’ position.
Festival director Ikenna Okeh cited the situation as a reason for this decision, saying that the country’s current issues contradict the festival’s values of justice and human dignity.
“The Puebla International Literature Festival aims to position itself as a beacon for the celebration of diverse voices, cultures and ideas. We believe that literature has the power to challenge the status quo, to speak to authority and to give a voice to the voiceless.
We regret to announce the revocation of South Africa’s designation as the Country-in-Focus for this year’s festival, and the withdrawal of the invitation of our South African guests following the victimization of Chidimma Adetshina, her family, & members of immigrant communities. pic.twitter.com/JbX8VpZ24E
— Puebla Int’l Literature Festival (@PueblaLitFest) August 8, 2024
However, we cannot, in good conscience, honour a country as a focal point of our celebration when it is currently embroiled in such profound injustices as has been currently gathering momentum following the Miss SA beauty pageantry,” said Okeh.
Despite this, the festival said it remained committed to supporting South African writers and thinkers advocating for positive change.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
